Sea-going range-finder.



No. 632,!05. Patented Aug. 29, I899.

J. DONEGAN.

SEA GOING RANGE FINDER.

(Application filed Jan. 12, 1899.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Shea} l.

No. 632,|05. Patented Aug. 29, I899. J. DUNEGAN. SEA some RANGE FINDER.

(Application filed. Jan. 12, 1899.)

3 Shandy-Sheet 2,

(No Model.)

//v VENTOR A TTOHNE rs.

WITNESSES Patented Aug. 29, I899.

3 Sheets$h'eet 3,

J. DDNEGAN. SEA GOING RANGE FINDER.

(Applica ion filed Jan. 12, 1899.)

(No Model.)

mmnllllllllllwuw A rENT OFFICE.

.IoI-IN DoNEeAN, OF oINcINNATI, oI-IIo.

SEA-GOING RANGE-FINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,105, dated August29, 1899.

Application filed January 12, 1899. Serial No. 701,942. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN DONEGAN, of Gincinnati, in the county ofHamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Sea-Goin gRange-Finder, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedrange-finder, more especially designed for use on men-of-war, marinestations, and the like, and arranged to enable an observer to quicklyand accurately find the range of a distant object.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations ofthe same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out inthe claims.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

Figure l is a side elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a rear endelevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a front end elevation of the same. Fig.4 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevation of the same on the line5 5 in Fig.4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the indicator. Fig. 7 is anenlarged transverse section of the improvement on the line 7 7 inFig. 1. Fig. 8 is alike view of the same on the line 8 8 in Fig. 1. Fig.9 is a diagrammatic view of the improvement, and Fig. 10 is an enlargedface view of part of the graduation on the cylinder.

The improved range-finder is provided with two suitably-constructedtelescopes A and B, of which the telescope B is mounted to move into anangular position relatively to the telescope A for forming of saidtelescopes part of the sides of a triangle, having its base in the formof a transverse bracket D at the rear of the telescopes and theintersection of the sides or apex at the object to be sighted, as willbe readily understood by reference to Fig. 9. Each telescope is providedin its front end with a sight 0t 19. (See Figs. 3 and 7.)

The telescope A is attached by suitable clamping-bands O to alongitudinally-extending rod 0, held in bearings 0 formed on the upperends of rods 0 vertically adjustable in transverse brackets D D, securedon posts D D", respectively, bolted or otherwise fastened at the ends ofa longitudinally-extending beam E, pivoted at its middle E on a post 1F,carried on the top of a disk F, mounted to turn on balls F arranged in aracewayin a bearing F provided with legs F attached to a rubber or otherelastic base G, attached to a stand on board of the vessel or otherplace on which the device is-used. By interposing the rubber base Gbetween the vessel proper and the instrument the vibrations of the.instrument are reduced to a minimum, said vibrations being incident tothe firing of guns, working of machinery, 6150.

The postF is provided with a bolt F extending through a central openingin the bearing F and on said bolt screws a nut F, adapted to abutagainst the under side of the bearing to lock the post F and diskFagainst rotation on the balls F carried by the bearing F By slightlyloosening the nut F the beam E and the telescopes supported thereby andall the other Working parts of the instrument can be readily turned, andat the same-time the beam can be swung in a vertical direction on thepivot E to bring the telescopes into proper position for sighting adistant object in the manner hereinafter more fully described.

The rod 0, above mentioned, is secured by nuts 0 in position on thebearings 0 and nuts 0 screw on the rods 0 to securely fasten said rods 0in the adjusted vertical position.

The telescope B is connected by clampingbands H H with alongitudinally-extending rod H, having its rear end mounted to slide ina bearing H its forward end being provided with a vertically-disposedbearing H mounted to turn on a pivot I, as is plainly indicated in Fig.7. The bearing H (see Fig.

8) is carried by a vertical rod H loosely held versely-extcnding nut Jand said bearing is engaged on top by a nut H", screwing on the upperthreaded end of the pivot I to hold said bearing in proper position onthe pivot I. In the nut J screws the threaded portion K of a screw-shaftK extending transversely and mounted to turn in bearings O and C ofwhich the bearing is formed on the forward rod O and the bearing 0 isformed on the upper end of a rod C extending vertically and fitted intothe bracket D. Nuts O screw on said rod and abut on the top and bottomof the bracket to hold the rod in position on said bracket and permitits vertical adjustment to bring the telescope Bin proper horizontalalinement with the telescope A.

The shaft K is prevented from lateral movement by nuts K K screwing onthe outer ends of the shaft and abutting against the bearings O O andsaid shaft is provided with a worm-Wheel L in mesh with a worm L,arranged on a vertically-disposed shaft L journaled in suitable bearingsD secured to the post D and bracket D, as indicated in the drawings, thesaid bearings D being preferably adjustable to compensate for any wear.

On the shaft L is secured a worm-wheel L in mesh witha worm N, (see Fig.4,) .formed or secured on a longitudinally-extending shaft N, mounted toturn in suitable bearings in the posts D D the shaft being preventedfrom longitudinal movement in the bearings by nuts N N as shown in Figs.4 and 5. On the rear end of the shaft N is secured a knurled head Nadapted to be taken hold of by the operator to turn said shaft N andcause the worm N to rotate the worm-wheel L and the shaft L the rotarymotion of the latter being transmitted by the worm L to the worm-wheel Land the shaft K to cause the threads K thereof to shift the nut Jlaterally and, move the pivot I in the same direction, so as to swingthe forward end of the telescope B toward or from the forward end of theother telescope A, according to the direction in which the head N isturned. It is understood that the rod H forms the fulcrum for thetelescope B at the rear end of the device, the rod H being free to slidein the bearing H to compensate for the movement of the forward end ofthe telescope toward or from the telescope A.

On the shaft N is secured a cylinder 0, formed on its peripheral surfacewith circumferential rows of numerals indicating the distance in yards,(see Fig. 10,) the numerals being read off along thelongitudinally-extending bar P, supported by the brackets D and D. Thebar P is provided with numerals from 1 to l0 and subdivisions, as shownin Fig. 4, to indicate the several rows of numerals on the peripheralsurface of the cylinder 0.

On the shaft N, near the post D is formed or secured a worm N in meshwith a wormwheel Q, secured on a vertically disposed shaft Q, journaledin suitable bearings ID,

secured to the post D and the bracket D. On the upper end of the shaft Qis secured a pointer Q indicating on a fixed disk Q provided on its topwith a graduation numbered from 1 to 10, corresponding to the numeralson the graduated bar P. The several bearings herein described arepreferably arranged to permit of taking up Wear.

The operation is as follows: When the pointer Q stands at 1 on the diskQ then the highest number in the first row on the graduatedcylinderreads on the numeral 1 of the graduated bar P, and the telescope B thenstands nearly in a parallel position relatively to the telescope A. Whenit is desired to measure the distance between the instrument and adistant object, such as an approaching vessel or other object, theoperator by turning the device on the base F and swinging it on thepivot E readily brings the telescope A in position to sight the objectthrough said telescope. The operator now sights through the othertelescope B and turns the head N toimpart a swinging motion to thetelescope B until the operator or observer also sights the object. Inturning the head N the telescope Bis swung at its forward end toward theforward end of the telescope A, and at the same time the rotary motionof the shaft N is transmitted to the cylinder 0, and by the worm N andworm-wheel Q to the shaft Q to move the pointer Q on the disk Q WVhenthe object has been sighted through both telescopes exactly at the samepoint, then the operator reads the position of the pointer Q on the diskQ say at the numeral 7, and then reads the number of yards at the bar P,adjacent to the numeral 7, say fourteen hundred and twenty-eightyardsthat is, the distance from the instrument to the distant object. Itis understood that the several gears, the threads K, and nut J are soproportioned relatively to the movement of the cylinder 0 to the barPand the movement of the pointer Q to the disk Q that the distance givenis accurate, the whole being governed by the deviations of saiddevice,together with its gearings, magnifying powers, 850.

By reference to Fig. 4 it will be noted that the graduation on the bar Pindicates subdivisions for the numerals from 1 to 7, inclusive, and thedivision-lines for the numerals of the graduation on the cylinder 0 arearranged step-like, aswill be readily seen by reference to Fig. 10,which indicates the rows of numerals for the graduations 1, 12;, 19,-,and 1% on the bar P. Now in case the object has been sighted throughboth telescopes, as above explained, and the pointer Q points on thedisk Q 011 the numeral 1, then the separating-line in that row of thecircnmferen tial rows for the numerals from 1 to 12F, standing at theedge of the bar P, indicates the distance-numeral to be read. Asindicated in Fig. 10, the starting-point at the first row is for adistance of one million IIO yards, and the range then graduallydecreases to a hundred yards at the last point indicated on the bar P inFig. 4.

By arranging the numerals on the graduation of the cylinder incircumferential rows around the peripheral surface of the cylinder I amenabled to accommodate a large number of numerals on the cylinder, togive a great range to the instrument, and to permit of readily readingoif the distance in conjunction with the bar P, as above explained.

I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown and abovedescribed, as I may vary the same without deviating from the spirit ofmy invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure byLetters Patent row of numerals on the cylinder on which thedistance is to be read, said indicator comprising a fixed disk havinggraduations corresponding to the graduations of the fixed bar, and apointer moving on the disk in unison with the said cylinder and pivotedtelescope, substantially as described.

2. A range-finder, comprising two telescopes arranged in the samehorizontal plane, one of the telescopes being pivoted at one end, meansconnected with the other end of the pivoted telescope for swinging it onits pivot, a revoluble cylinder below the telescopes and provided withrows of numerals indicating distances, a fixed graduated bar arrangedalongside of the cylinder, a fixed indicating disk having graduationscorresponding to the graduations of the fixed bar and arranged at oneend of the cylinder, and a pointer moving on said disk, and gearingbetween the cylinder and pointer and cylinder and the means for swingingthe pivoted telescope, substantially as described.

3. A range-finder, comprising two telescopes, one of which is pivoted toswing toward and from the other telescope, a main shaft under thecontrol of the operator and mounted to be turned by the same, a threadedshaft geared with said main shaft to be rotated by the latter, a nutscrewing on said threaded shaft and connected with the free end of thepivoted telescope, a cylinder carried by said main shaft and provided atits peripheral surface with circumferential rows for containing numeralsindicatingdistances,

and a fixed bar arranged lengthwise of the cylinder, for reading off thedistances, substantially as shown and described.

4. A range finder, comprising two telescopes, one of which is pivoted toswing toward and from the other telescope, a main shaft under thecontrol of the operator and mounted to be turned by the same, a threadedshaft geared with said main shaft to berotated by the latter, a nutscrewing on said threaded shaft and connected with the free end of thepivoted telescope, a cylinder carried by said main shaft and provided atits peripheral surface with circumferential rows for containing numeralsindicating distances, a fixed bar arranged lengthwise of the cylinder,for reading off the distances, said bar containing characters forindicating said rows, a fixed disk having characters corresponding tothe characters on the said bar, a pointer for indicating on said disk,and a gearing for connecting the pointer and the said main shaft, toactuate the pointer in unison with the cylinder on the shaft,substantially as shown and described.

5. A range-finder, comprisinga base, a post, a ball-bearing for the poston said base, a beam fulcrumed on said post and provided at its endswith posts, transverse brackets carried by said posts, a telescoperigidly carried by the brackets, a second telescope pivoted at one endon one of the brackets, and movably supported at its other end on theother bracket, a main shaft mounted to turn on said beamposts, acylinder carried by said shaft, a bar carried by the brackets, forreading numerals on the periphery of the cylinder, a graduated disk anda pointer actuated from said main shaft, a transverse screw-shaft drivenfrom said main shaft, a nut movable on said screwshaft, and a pivotedconnection between the nut and the forward end of the pivoted telescope,as set forth.

6. In a range-finder, the combination with two telescopes, one of whichis pivoted at the rear end, of a tranverse shaft under the front ends ofthe telescopes, a support for the front end of the pivoted telescope,said support being mounted to travel on said shaft when said shaft isrotated, a longitudinally-extending main shaft under the control of theoperator, and means for rotating the transverse shaft from the mainshaft substantially as described.

7. In a range-finder, the combination with two telescopes, one of whichis pivoted at its rear end, of a transverse shaft under the forward endsof the telescopes, a support for the front end of the pivoted telescope,said support being mounted to travel on the transverse shaft when saidshaft is rotated, amain shaft, geared with the transverse shaft, acylinder on the main shaft and having circunr ferential rows of numeralsand an indicator for said cylinder, substantially as described.

8. In a range-finder, the combination with two telescopes, one of whichis pivoted at its rear end, of a transverse shaft under the front endsof the telescopes, a support for the front end of the pivoted telescopesaid support being mounted to travel on the transverse shaft when saidshaft is rotated, a main shaft geared with the transverse shaft, andunder the control of the operator, a cylinder on the shaft and providedwith circumferential rows of numerals, a graduated fixed bar alongsideof the cylinder, a fixed disk, a pointer moving over the disk, andgearing between the pointer and main shaft, substantially as described.

9. In a range-finder, the combination with two telescopes, ofvertically-adjustable supports for the front and rear ends of thetelescopes,one of the rear supports being mounted to turn to form apivot for the rear end of one of the telescopes, a connection betweenthe front supports and upon which the front end of the pivoted telescopeis mounted to travel, and means for moving the front end of the pivotedtelescope back and forth on the said connection, substantially asdescribed.

10. In a range-finder, the combination with two telescopes, one of whichis pivoted at its rear end, of a transverse shaft under the forward endsof the telescopes and having a screw-threaded portion, a nut on thescrewthreaded portion of the shaft, a connection between the nut and theforward end of the front end, of a transverse shaft under the forwardends of the telescopes and having a screw-threaded portion, a nut on thescrewthreaded portion of the shaft and provided with a vertical pivotentering the bearing carried by the forward end of the pivotedtelescope, and a longitudinal shaft extending to the rear ends of thetelescopes and geared with the transverse shaft, substantially asdescribed.

12. In a range-finder, the combination with a support, and a telescopeprovided on its under side with a longitudinally-extending rod having ahearing at its forward end, of a pivoted bearing in which the rear endof the said rod slides, a transverse shaft having a screwthreadedportion, a nut on the shaft and provided with a vertical pivot enteringthe bearing of the said rod, and means for operating the said shaft,substantially as described.

13. In a range-finder, the combination with a support, and a telescopeprovided on its under side with a longitudinally-extending rod having abearing at its front end, of a pivoted and adjustable bearing in whichthe rear end of the rod slides, vertical adjustable bearings at thefront of the frame, a transverse shaft mounted in the bearings andhaving a screwthreaded portion, a nut on the screw-threaded portion ofthe shaft and provided with a vertical pivot entering the .bearing ofthe said rod, and means for operating the shaft, substantially asdescribed.

14. In a range-finder, the combination with two telescopes one of whichis mounted on a vertical pivot at its rear end, of a transverse shaftunder the forward ends of the telescopes and having a screw-threadedportion, a nut on the screw-threaded portion of the shaft and upon whichthe forward end of the niv oted telescope is mounted,a longitudinalshaft below the telescopes, a cylinder mounted on the shaft and providedwith rows of numerals indicating distances, a graduated fixed bar at oneside of the cylinder, a fixed graduated disk, a pointer moving on thedisk, and gearing between the longitudinal shaft and the transverseshaft and the shaft of the pointer, substantially as described.

JOHN D ONE GAN.

Witnesses:

WM. E. J ONES, JAMES BURNS.

